Customer Reviews

A Traveler's Dream: Celtic Explorations

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This recording, subtitled "Celtic Explorations", is a masterpiece of understated intrigue. Ever changing, the moods and styles range from lilting, traditional Celtic and dreamy New Age to shimmering Persian taxims and innovative modern chamber music. Maggie Sansone's original compositions and arrangements are defined by her scintillating playing of the hammered dulcimer and supported by guest instrumentalists who provide gentle, multilayered accompaniments. Featured prominently is Bobby Read, an amazingly versatile musician who seems to play just about every wind, keyboard and percussion instrument under the sun! Also contributing are a host of other artists, many of whom appear as soloists or accompanists on other releases produced by Sansone under the label "Maggie's Music". They are: Al Petteway on guitar; multi-national fiddlers Bonnie Rideout (Scottish), Sara Nisenson (Irish) and Andrea Hoag (Swedish); flutist Aran Olwell; harper David Sheim; Debbie Hunter on viola da gamba; T.J. Johnson on mandolin and cittern; and percussionists Paddy League and Robert Jospe. The dreamy, imaginative wanderings of "A Traveler's Dream" are a treat -- something different and well worth hearing. If you enjoy this sort of music, you may like the innovative Celtic- and Renaissance-inspired work of the "classical" group Ensemble Galilei as well. Try also Maggie Sansone's other solo recordings, and "Celtic Mist: Quiet Moods From Ancient Lands", a sampler album showcasing the gentle elegance of various "Maggie's Music" artists.

Maggie's sixth solo release and it exlores in innovative ways.. music from Ireland, Scoland, Sweden, Cape Breton and the Northumberland region of England. Also are Persian and sufi-influenced compositions by Sansone and sets celebrating the ancient Celtic holiday's of Samhain and Lughnasa. This album is one of the most innovative album featuring hammered dulcimer around with its multi-layer textures and layering of sometimes 3 hammered dulcimer sounds together, plus various tonal qualities are explored with different textures of mallets on the strings and use of other mallet struck instruments and along with complex origianal compositions more like tone poems that takes the listener on a mysterious journey. A visionary meeting of Celtic and world music influences.

The hammered dulcimer is a perfect instrument. It's melodic in a percussive way, perfect for combining with other instruments. With the right musicians, the dulcimer rises from simple folk instrument into a highly expressive, extremely moving one. Maggie Sansone is a worthy musician who has developed a true feel for its capabilities. She wrings every ounce of emotion from it. In her hands, it not only dances, it swings. Her understanding plus her musicianship allows her not just to adapt traditional tunes but also to write pieces suited to it. A Traveler's Dream delves nicely into different cultures while retaining Celtic toots, with Sansone leading the way, assisted by the occasional addition of fiddle, guitar, percussion and more

This is the first CD I have from Maggie Sansone. I saw that she has several out. It is very melodic and rather traditional Celtic music; very enjoyable. I would definately purchase another of her CDs.

Like Maggie Sansone's other recordings, this is tasteful, exquisitely performed, and a pleasure to listen to. The tunes span the Celtic world, and the arrangements enhance the qualities of the acoustic instruments rather than blurring them in an electronic mist. What seems to be missing is guts: the traveler doesn't actually take a journey (and return with blistered feet and a pack full of silk and incense), she just dreams about it! Or, to paraphrase the title of one of her other albums, she dances on the shore rather than diving into the waves. This is possibly my personal taste rather than anything actually "lacking" in the CD. But some tracks (such as the "Dervish" improvisation and the intriguing "Bear Dance") show hints that she's capable of considerably more original and passionate work, and I'd like to hear what would happen if she turned loose the Wild Woman side of her personality!

I heard a cut from this album on a Celtic music show I listen to on a local radio station every Saturday, called Celtic Nation (the station's web site is [...], if you want to stream it). Once again I heard something there I had to hear more of, so got this album. I like it more each time I listen to it. Rooted in Celtic, but travelling to some unexpected places, it hasn't yet failed to satisfy me. Recommended!